Egmont Key State Park

Where: Located in the mouth of Tampa Bay, just south of Fort Desoto Park (Mullet Key).
Accessible only by boat.

Parking: No cars, no roads. Nothing to buy. Nothing to eat or drink.

Hours: 8am till sunset, typical Florida State Park hours.

Beach Facilities: Sand. No restrooms. Check to see if your boat has a head (toilet, loo,
servicio, can).

Lifeguards: No.

Food concession: No, but if you take the ferry or a charter boat to the island, the boat may
sell junk food, soft drinks and beer.

Trolley Stop: No, the trolley doesn't float.

Surfing hot-spot: It must have surf, but I've not heard any reports about
it. You'd need a boat to get to it. The conditions that usually generate surf on the Gulf coast usually
are not favorable for taking your small boat out to Egmont. It would be quite rough. Let me know if you catch some
good waves on Egmont Key.

Websites about Egmont Key State Park

The Florida Online Park Guide is the State's official page on Egmont Key and contains valuable
information and special notices. The Northern Prarie Wildlife Research Center has a bird checklist available for Egmont Key, as well as a map of Egmont Key, a mammal checklist
and a reptile checklist. Yes, that's what I said...a REPTILE checklist. Be sure to print that one.
Lizard...check; gopher tortoise...check...

How to Get to Egmont Key

Above: Egmont Key Ferry.

Swimming to Egmont is not a good option, so you'll need access to a boat. There are a number of private
companies that ferry people to Egmont Key. Prices range from $15 to $$$$$$.

Captain Hal Batey runs Charlie's Charters out of the Treasure Island Marina near Blind Pass. He provides 2 hour
trips to Shell Key and 4 hour trips to Egmont Key for snorkeling and sightseeing. Cap'n Batey guarantees you
will see dolphins. Check out the Egmont Key video on his website.

Tropical Island Getaway Tours operates a private charter service to Egmont Key and Shell
Key. Based on their website, you could pretty much design your own trip. They do weddings at sea, area tours,
snorkeling, funeral services at sea, etc.

Shop around for the best value. Prices vary depending on whether you want to rent snorkeling equipment, beach
equipment, transportation to the ruins for snorkeling, etc. All-inclusive packages can often provide a great
value.

Photos of Egmont Key

Above: Riding the Ferry. Egmont Key in the distance.

Above: approaching the Gulf beach on Egmont.

Above: making a beach landing on a calm day.

Above: boats anchored off the beach.

Above: Egmont Key has a dense forest in the interior.

Above: imagine when this was a busy place, long ago. Before Al Gore invented the internet.

Above: One day fairly soon the Gulf will reclaim this old derelict structure.